Presentation at Farm Sanctuary

Eleven interns attended a seminar, November 13, 2013, on the “Health Benefits and Nutrition Realities of a Vegan Diet” at lunchtime today at the Farm Sanctuary Education Center in Orange, New York. His talk was sponsored by the Vegetarian and Vegan Association through a grant from the NALITH Foundation. Interns at Farm Sanctuary are requested to follow a plant-based diet during their tenure at the sanctuary (usually 1 – 2 months). Mr. Eisman discussed the lowered risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke (the three leading causes of death in the US) when a whole-foods vegan diet is eaten. He also listed some of the nutrients to pay attention to when animal products are eliminated : Vitamin B-12, calcium, and Vitamin D, and how each can be obtained from plant-derived sources. Although protein is often thought to be a concern for vegans, it is rarely a problem, as most Americans consume far more than is recommended, often with negative results (higher cancer risk, kidney disease, and possibly bone thinning).